Chelsea community steps up for Pleasant Grove

Chelsea coach Wade Waldrop, shown during a 2010 game, said his town wants to help Pleasant Grove's team get some feeling of normalcy. (For The Birmingham News/Butch Dill)

CHELSEA, Alabama -- Chelsea and Pleasant Grove weren't supposed to play each other in their spring football games. Their original opponents decided they didn't want to play.

So Chelsea coach Wade Waldrop called Pleasant Grove's Jim Elgin and the two decided on April 22 that they would play in May. When the tornado ripped through Pleasant Grove five days later, it didn't take long for Waldrop to find out that he wouldn't have to find another opponent.

"Jim said that their kids and their people couldn't wait to get back a little bit of normalcy and keep going," said Waldrop.

So when the two meet at Chelsea at 7 p.m. on Friday night, the host community is going to do all it can to help from everything to food and donations.

"Our mayor (Earl Niven) has really been the lead on this," said Waldrop. "A lot of people in our community have roots in Pleasant Grove or Hueytown or Pratt City and want to help."

The Chelsea community, both in school and in town, has already started collecting donations for Pleasant Grove. The sign on the F&M Bank will promote the game and collections during this week, while other donations, such as one from the Chelsea PTO, continue to grow. Community members are also planning a cookout for Pleasant Grove attendees, while Chelsea fans are asked to wear purple and gold ribbons along with their own school's blue and white colors. Proceeds are slated for the school and relief efforts in the community.

"We're trying to show them how much we care and for our community to see how lucky we are," said Waldrop. "We want them to feel as normal and cared for as we can."